I have a Zee on my Mega and it's great - but the short cage limits the chain capacity so is 1x10 only.

Setting it up for the big sprocket and accommodates chain growth means there is slack on the 11t so I could do with dropping a link. However, if I do this I'd need to make sure I don't use more than 2/3 travel in 36t or it would be over tight. Not that likely but better safe than sorry. Temped to go for a SLX+ to handle this combo of capacity and chain growth. If your frame has less chain growth you'd be OK.

I've got an SLX, a couple of XTs and a Saint now, they're all really bloomin good. I was looking at Zee but then everyone I know that's bought one has had it explode without too much abuse (and Shimano seem to be warrantying them, surprisingly, which kinda suggests there's an issue there). Mind you it could just be that people have excessive expectations of them.

I was looking at Zee but then everyone I know that's bought one has had it explode without too much abuse (and Shimano seem to be warrantying them, surprisingly, which kinda suggests there's an issue there).

I think there must have been a fault with an early manufacturing run - when my first one imploded I was literally just riding along.

As far as I can tell, the benefit of 'proper' jockey wheels is that the bearings seize if you leave them wet and unused for too long (like after breaking your ankle in the snow) and then when you come to replace them they cost almost as much as a whole mech!

Which in mine (early adopter from Germany) had all sorts of issues with the bearings pushing through the jockey wheel causing it to run off centre and chain to fall off and jam between jockey and cage (hard to explain without pics but Madison offered to warranty it)
I swopped them for cheapish alloy ones from eBay and all fine since
If I have to replace it would go SLX shadow+, med cage (2x10) don't see point of paying extra for XT when SLX is so good

I have a Zee on my Mega ... Setting it up for the big sprocket and accommodates chain growth means there is slack on the 11t so I could do with dropping a link.

I had the exact same issue setting up a Zee mech + 11-36 cassette on my Mega but got it tensioned nicely in all gears by setting the B-tension screw so that the upper jockey wheel runs a little further away from the 36t than it's supposed to. No issues, love it.

The alternative is to drop a link like you say, but if I did that then bottoming out the travel while in the 36t (and possibly the 34t) would definitely break something so I'm taking no chances.